Having a baby is a private miracle, and it is also the source of much shared joy. For this reason, women and families in every country and every culture have customs to ensure that the journey into motherhood is marked and remembered.
This beautifully curated, internationally sourced book collects traditions, folk songs, stories, crafts, lessons and advice from mothers around the world, from varied economic, spiritual, and cultural backgrounds. From yoga-inspired routines for resting during pregnancy to favorite proverbs printed on the kangas used to carry African newborns, from the origins of the baby shower to the Japanese ritual where Sumo wrestlers are asked to make babies cry, each page is filled with inspiration, humor, and insight about the beginnings of parenthood.
Edited by Brigid McConville with proceeds supporting the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. Award winning journalist and filmmaker Brigid McConville is the global creative director of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, which is based in Washington, DC and Lodon, UK. She travels the world to ensure the alliance’s mission that pregnancy and childbirth are safe for all. She organizes international conferences, and frequently meets with world leaders, the UN, and women from diverse national, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
I absolutely adored this book. As a mother, I loved reading all of the different ways birth is celebrated. The book is broken up into four parts:
- Before Birth
- Time for Birth
- After Birth
- The “First” Year
Each section is filled with stories from midwives and mothers and the book just draws you in. There are poems, recipes, and beautiful pictures throughout the entire book. Although there are separate stories within each section, the book flows nicely and doesn’t feel choppy.
It’s amazing to see how involved the community and family can be in the life of mother and baby. I’ve heard the saying “it takes a village to raise a child” and this book shows just how it is done. In many cultures, new moms are completely supported – some have extended periods where they are expected to bond and recover with their new baby. It’s lovely to see women being supported in other cultures, but did make me a little sad we don’t always get the same support here in the US.
I think this would make a wonderful gift for any new mother, mother-to-be, or even a new grandmother. What better way to say Happy Mother’s Day to the women in your life than with this beautiful book celebrating pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year of baby’s life. I plan to share this with all of my mom friends and will be giving this as a gift at baby showers in the future.
Connect:
You can connect with OneWorld Publications and On Becoming a Mother on their website, Facebook, Pinterest, and @OneWorldNews on Twitter.
Buy It!
You can buy On Becoming a Mother on Amazon for SRP $16.99.
